Forty parents of children aged between 1 and 8 years were recruited by means of an exhaustive telephone survey of a defined suburban area in regional Queensland. Following recruitment, parents were mailed a family survey comprising measures of parenting and child behaviour problems. The sample represents almost 50% of parents of young children in the defined area. Forty-four per cent of parents in the sample reported numbers of child behaviours as problems that exceeded recommended clinical cut-off scores based on data reported in other studies. Thirty per cent of parents reported problems occurring at an intensity that exceeded clinical cut-off scores. Fathers who completed the questionnaires reported significantly more problems than mothers, although the ratio of mothers to fathers in the sample was 3:1. However, there was no difference between the reported behaviours of boys or girls. Parent characteristics that were highly correlated with reported child behaviour problems were overreactivity; stress, anxiety, and depression; and parental satisfaction with their parenting style. Family and other demographic variables appeared to play less significant roles. The results are discussed in the context of the challenge of delivering effective early-intervention parenting programs to large numbers of parents.

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Adolescents and Parents (DISCAP; Holland & Dadds, 1995), for DSM-IV anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Two studies were conducted to examine the reliability and validity of the DISCAP. In the first study, the DISCAP and the Youth Self Report (YSR; Achenbach, 1991c) were administered to 120 nonclinical adolescents aged 12 through to 14 years. In the second study, the DISCAP and Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991b) were administered to parents of 57 clinical children and adolescents aged 6 through to 16 years. Inter-rater reliability data was collected, and both concurrent and discriminant validity of the DISCAP were assessed against the YSR and CBCL. Inter-rater agreements for primary diagnoses were high, and rating scale data supported the concurrent and discriminant validity of the DISCAP diagnoses. Results suggest that the DISCAP can be used to facilitate reliable and valid diagnoses of childhood anxiety disorders.

Cognitive behaviour therapy concentrates on strategies to assist clients in changing their thoughts and/or their behaviour. The aim of this paper is to discuss research findings from the addictions field indicating that an effective approach to therapy is to enhance motivation for change. Research into stages and processes of change, decision making, and motivational interviewing is reviewed. The paper concludes by suggesting ways in which this research can be used by therapists to increase the likelihood that clients will engage in change and maintain change over time.

Despite its inclusion as a basic component of the cognitive-behavioural treatment for panic disorder, the effects of the provision of information about panic anxiety have not been separately assessed. This study compared information-giving with self-monitoring of panic alone, on panic-related variables and negative affect for 40 people with panic disorder. In comparison to self-monitoring alone, information-giving together with self-monitoring was associated with reductions in anticipatory fear of panic and negative affect, but not panic frequency. These results suggest that provision of information about panic anxiety is an important component of the cognitive-behavioural approach to panic disorder in reducing anxious and depressive affect. The other cognitive-behavioural components of this intervention are required to impact upon specific panic parameters.

This single case study examined the treatment of blood-injury-injection (BII) phobia in a 14-year-old female. Thirteen 1-hour sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy were conducted. The intervention included a combination of exposure, applied tension, and cognitive restructuring in an effort to produce clinically significant reductions in anxiety and fainting in response to BII stimuli. Results did indeed show dramatic reductions in subjective distress in BII situations from baseline to post-treatment. This was supported by small reductions in phobic anxiety and general anxiety on self-report measures. In contrast to baseline, fainting did not occur during treatment. The subject rated cognitive restructuring as the most effective treatment component for the latter half of therapy. It is suggested that, to date, the importance of cognitive therapy for the treatment of BII phobia has been overlooked.

Evidence suggests that there are substantial costs (in a variety of spheres: personal, social, financial, etc.) associated with psychotic relapse. Furthermore, relapse increases the likelihood of future relapses and increased costs. This paper explores the application of a model of relapse prevention (RP) outlined by Marlatt and Gordon (1985) to the field of psychosis. The original model was designed to help individuals who abuse substances to maintain control over their habit. The advantages and limitations of applying the original model to the prevention of psychotic relapse are explored in detail in the context of an amended model. One major advantage of the RP model is that it provides a framework for the coordination of treatment interventions. The complex intervention packages, which may be useful in the management of psychotic illnesses, are described. The RP framework may be used to coordinate treatments in a manner that maximises their potential and emphasises patient control.

There are many criticisms of the use of inferential statistics in behavioural research, including those made by Sidman (1960). This paper reports the frequency of use of inferential statistics in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior in every fifth year from 1960. The usage is apparently growing. It is argued that is it time to return to appropriate experimental control.